For the History of Formula 1 column, today we want to offer you the story of the first and only double Italian F1 world champion, Alberto Ascari.
The origins of the pilot Alberto Ascari
He ran with many great drivers, Alberto Ascari (13 July 1918 – 26 May 1955). Was of Milan, of Sempione course. She chose to undertake the same career of the father Antonio at just seven years old, in 1925, exactly when he died in Montlhéry. To achieve his goal, bypassing maternal opposition, Ascari paid for his first trips to Monza by repeatedly selling his Greek dictionary. Mother he bought it back for him several times, thinking that his classmates were constantly taking it away from him, until he discovered the truth. At that point, he resigned himself to the indispensable passion of the son.
Ascari debuted in 1940. Twelve years later he was a Ferrari driver and, in 1952, he won the first world title in his history, the third Formula 1 world championship. The next year, after a fight with Juan Manuel Fangio in a Maserati and with teammate Nino Farina, champion of 1950, he repeated the feat.
The background to the tragic end
To talk about the fateful May 26, 1955, the day of Alberto Ascari's death, we need to go before purchasing, back four days. Alberto had 36 years, it was already five times Italian champion, two di Formula 1 and he had already raced at the wheel of Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Ferrari and Lancia. Among his countless trophies they include: the “Trofeo Nuvolari” Cup of the Mille Miglia in 1954. The Nürburgring Cup on 29 July 1951 on a Ferrari 375 F1 and the Silverstone Cup on 20 August 1949 on a Ferrari 125 F1. Not at least, he was also married – to Mietta – and a father.
Four days earlier he had been saved by a miracle by the divers who recovered it in the sea of Monaco. Perhaps for recover from trauma, il May 26, 1955 he went to Monza to race again. But on acar not his: now it was a pilot of spear, no more than Ferrari. He he was at home with Mietta, when his friends Luigi Villoresi and Eugenio Castellotti called him because they were testing one in Monza new Ferrari 750.
The curse of the 26th for Alberto Ascari
Furthermore, on Sunday the Cortemaggiore Grand Prix for prototypes was held. Alberto arrived Than we at the racetrack. It was done lend la Ferrari by Castellotti to do some walking e also the suit: he had arrived at the circuit in a suit and tie. So without his clothing, his helmet, his gloves: for once, he had abandoned all his superstition. Among these, there was also that of never pick up a steering wheel on day 26 of any month. Not only his father he had died one day 26, but his friend Silvio Vailati had also died that day, in May 1940, in a race in Genoa.
After three turns, a roar was heard. Nobody saw him, nobody knows what happened. It is known that he had left the current one Ascari curve, which took its name from then on, and which he died instantly, under the weight of the car. After a fifteen meter flight and a fatal chest trauma. Dismayed, the friends noticed on the asphalt the sign of braking which could not be explained. Maybe an illness, maybe a wrong maneuver, maybe a worker who was passing right there... In any case, Alberto Ascari was dead. Ecosystem's staff is 26 May 1955. And, as we mentioned before, on 26 July thirty years earlier the same fate had befallen his father in Montlhéry, in France, 26 July 1925, at 36 years old.
Source: La Repubblica.
